The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-12-24
Special Correspondence.

~ - iio "SNAs 49, -
bills were introduced IN the senate,
hut the house is stiil in statu QUO.
The appointment Of the committees
has been delayed somewhat by the
Ihocbe.Carlisle contest. The house,
however, viii get down to work on
the 5th Of January, and will then
dispose of business with dispatch.
The only day Of any interest in the
house was on Friday, when Reed, of
Maine. opposed the motion Of Hatch,
of Missouri, to adjourn from the
10Th of December to January 4.
The member from Name charged
that the Democrats were only delay
ing public business, which Mr.. Hatch
and other members resented and
claimed that it would greatly expe.
dite business to adjourn Hrtil after
the appointment Of the committees.
Reed also declared that his party
was anxious for an opportunity to
vote to reduce the tariff, and the
Democrats replied that they should
soon have the opportunity, and that
when they had the opportunity last
session they had always voted
against the reduction. In this dis
cussion the Republicans virtually
admitted that they were agreed to
vote for the repeal Of the tobacco
tax, and as the Democrats have also
likewise expressed themselves, that
one question may be regarded as
settled.
1t IS rumored that Senator Chan
der, of New Hampshire, is bitterly
opposing in committee the conhrma-
: ton Of Secretary Lamar as Associate
| Justice Of the Supreme Court. but
there is not the slightest doubt Of
6 his confirmation. \ few Of the Re
publican senator's may not vote for
!, II. but many Of them will, and so
before many days the secretary vii!
lie a Judge.
. An important paper laid before
:, congress this week is All index OF
= Southern claims referred to the
g Court Of Claims under the Bowman
0 act. 1t shows the total number of
= claims referred to congress-lhe dis
. allowed end barred cases-to be
j., some 22.2GS. representing in money
value $6O,259,l50. Many OF these
b claims are just and supported by the
4 best evidence, but barred because
q not filed within the time allowed b;
the act. 1t is believed that at a day
= not far distant all these cases vii.
he reopened and sent to the Court
of Claims for final adjudication.
The PostotIice Department ha:
been the busiest Of all department:
this week. On Thursday bids were
j. opened for furnishing mailbag locks
Q fasteners and label holders. There
were Gfty-six bids submitted, ant
they ranged from one cent up to fifty
e Gems. They were merely for ll'
l. use Of the devices by the depart
IS mcnt. the government to pay for tn
: material and manufacture. From
10000 to $4,000 new bags are mad,
'' for use in the department ever. year
and so the patentee of improvement
lie in mail bags are anxious to hav
Y their inventions adopted. The pres
: ent bag in use has been used 70
=. twenty years past. but TIE govern
u ment is anxious to have a better bag
a and so, if any n of the bags sui
O.. mitted meets the requirements i
r., will probably be adopted. Th
) award will not be made before til
IA 10Th Of next February.
a The dead letter sale is now i
j. progress. and the postofice depar'
a. ment will realize many thousands c
%. dollars from the sale Of jewelry an
ell other conceivable articles sci
through the mails aud never deli
y cred for. the want Of q proper az
ne dress or other cause. Many bargain
lie are obtained by the purchasers, au
J, many instances can be cited vile,
for fifty cents and a dollar, go
% watches and diamond rings ha,
VI been purchased. The packages al
Of all sealed and no purchaser know
lie what he buys until he opens h
~ package after paying for it.
Nothing of national interest h;
y transpired this week, and all tt
RI newspaper men have had little b.
- 9cr doto;I- to u,rito about Co..,